The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    "ThinkPad" branded WLAN cards, actual manufacturer?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by thinkpad knows best, May 9, 2010.

  1. thinkpad knows best

    thinkpad knows best Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    108
    Messages:
    1,140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I noticed Lenovo does not actually state the manufacturer of the "ThinkPad" WLAN cards offered on some ThinkPad configs, what company is the OEM?
     
    thinkpad knows best, May 9, 2010
    #1
  2. k2001

    k2001 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    188
    Messages:
    1,228
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    The current batch are from Realtek, they use different brand for each revision. i.e. T400 use different manufacter
     
    k2001, May 9, 2010
    #2
  3. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

    Reputations:
    6,668
    Messages:
    8,224
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Not necessarily. In as far as I know, the Tx00 generation "Thinkpad b/g" and "Thinkpad b/g/n" options were also Realtek cards.
     
    MidnightSun, May 9, 2010
    #3
  4. erik

    erik modifier

    Reputations:
    3,647
    Messages:
    1,610
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    55
    they're atheros, broadcom, or realtek depending on the FRU.
     
    erik, May 9, 2010
    #4
  5. Th1nkpad

    Th1nkpad Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    34
    Messages:
    213
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'd pass on these cards. The realtek "thinkpad b/g/n" wireless card is garbage. I went on ebay and purchased an intel 5300 wifi instead to replace it.
     
    Th1nkpad, May 9, 2010
    #5
  6. thinkpad knows best

    thinkpad knows best Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    108
    Messages:
    1,140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I heard they were... but i also heard there's no significant difference between them. What exactly made them "garbage"?
     
    thinkpad knows best, May 9, 2010
    #6
  7. k2001

    k2001 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    188
    Messages:
    1,228
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    The linux support is iffy. Some manufactor are good at providing driver for linux, while other does not even try.
     
    k2001, May 10, 2010
    #7
  8. Th1nkpad

    Th1nkpad Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    34
    Messages:
    213
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It's ridiculously hard to connect to WiFi on my university campus with the Thinkpad B/G/N in places where an iPod Touch would get signal just fine. The poor signal retention is also bundled with frequent disconnection.

    I believe the main cause for this is inferior hardware and poor driver support. If you're using Linux in any way shape or form, SKIP this wireless card because the drivers you have to compile on your own are MUCH worse than its Windows counterpart (which is also incredibly crappy).
     
    Th1nkpad, May 10, 2010
    #8
  9. pi3guy

    pi3guy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I agree, if you are considering linux then pony up the extra cash for the intel card. I wish I had. Haven't gotten wireless to work with 10.04, if anyone has (with the realtek card), please post where you got the driver. Had to downgrade to 9.04 because of it and wasted half a day reinstalling my programs.

    however, in windows I get decent performance w/ realtek. At my university I get good detection, haven't found any places yet where its lacking.
     
    pi3guy, May 10, 2010
    #9
  10. k2001

    k2001 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    188
    Messages:
    1,228
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    pi3guy, when get into the live cd's try to wait for notification of proprietary driver, install the driver when you still in the live CD, then installed Ubuntu onto the laptop. That's how I solved my WIFI driver problem on S10-2, maybe that will work for you.
     
    k2001, May 10, 2010
    #10